Vacuum cleaner component



Aug. 21, 1962 c. H. MacFARLAND VACUUM CLEANER COMPONENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1960 FIG.

INVENTOR. CHARLES H. MacFARLAND A Ho m eys Aug. 21, 1962 c. H. M cFARLAND 3,049,744

VACUUM CLEANER COMPONENT Filed Nov. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3' INVENTOR.

CHARLES H. MGCFARLAND Attorneys United States Patent Ofiice Patented Aug. 21, 1962 3,G49,744 VACUUlVi CLEANER CQMPONENT Charles H. MacFarland, Rocky River, Ohio, assignor to The Scott & Fetzer Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 71,058 7 Claims. (Cl. 324) This invention relates to attachments and accessories for vacuum cleaners of the type having a fan casing with a vacuum opening for attaching a vacuum nozzle and having a fan shaft that projects through the vacuum opening and has a belt-receiving portion outside of the fan casing which may normally receive the driving belt of the rotary brush in the vacuum nozzle.

In attachments of the general type to which the invention relates, it is necessary to provide for the engaging and disengaging of a power belt to be driven by the fan shaft projecting through the vacuum opening of the fan casing of the vacuum cleaner. To this end there have previously been provided belt lifters, one such belt lifter being the subject of my Patent No. 2,538,464.

While belt lifters of various types have been proposed heretofore, many of them have not been completely successful because of the difiiculties in designing a belt lifter which will operate smoothly and be trouble free over a long period of time while being simple in design and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. To achieve smooth operation of a belt lifter, it is necessary to be sure that a proper fit is established between the moving parts. Heretofore, proper fit was attained by performing a great deal of finishing work on each of the parts or by maintaining close tolerances during manufacturing, both of which substantially increased costs.

Another problem in the use of belt lifters is created by the fact that the housings and other parts are generally made of a relatively soft material such as aluminum or a plastic. As a result, a great deal of wear may occur which may cause binding or such distorted movement of the lifter that it will not function properly.

The attachment of the present invention overcomes many of the diiiiculties heretofore encountered with belt lifters. The structure of the invention provides smooth operation of the belt lifter within the nozzle or housing. Moreover, this smooth operation is achieved without resorting to a great number of finishing operations to insure the proper fit of the moving parts. Also, excess wear of the parts is greatly reduced. Furthermore, the attachment of the present invention accomplishes these results with a construction which is not overly complex and which may be assembled simply and conveniently by conventional methods. In addition to the above advantages, the attachment of the invention also serves a decorative function.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a vacuum cleaner embodying an attachment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partially sectioned side elevation of the attachment.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view showing details of a belt lifter assembly of the attachment.

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged vertical section through the belt lifter assembly shown inFIGURE 2.

As shown in the drawings, a vacuum cleaner of a conventional type includes a fan casing 11 with an inlet opening 12 to which is detachably connected an accessory. The accessory may be a nozzle 13 having a drivable brush shaft 14.

The cleaner also has a fan shaft 16 extending out of inlet opening 12. When nozzle 13 is connected to fan casing 11, the fan shaft 16 extends into the nozzle through opening 17 which is aligned with opening 12. of the casing.

In the front wall 18 of the nozzle 13 is positioned a rotatable closure member or cap 20 with a portion 21 thereof extending into the interior of nozzle 13 to function as a belt lifter to apply a belt 22 to the fan shaft 16 and remove it therefrom as desired.

Rotatable cap 20 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 has secured therein a light diffusing insert 23, the upper portion 24 of which is disposed through a slot 26 in cap 20. The light diffusing insert 23 is secured within the cap 20 by means of a biasing element shown in the drawings as spring 27 which bears in its central portion downwardly against upper portion 24 of the insert and near its ends upwardly against the cap 26.

Cap 20 is maintained in proper position in the front wall 13 of nozzle 13 by a plate 28 which is suitably fastened with lifter 21 to the back thereof by a plurality of screws 30.

When cap 20 is rotated, for example, by gripping handle 32, the arm portion of lifter 21 engages a portion of the belt 22 and further rotation of cap 20 places the belt in an extended condition so that the belt may be applied to the fan shaft 16. The arm is then removed from contact with the belt by rotating cap 20 in a reverse direction until it reaches its original position.

To facilitate the movement of cap 20 in nozzle 13, a circumferential bearing 34 is positioned between the cap and the nozzle. This bearing preferably is shaped so that the bearing ring will engage both the inside peripheral edge 36 and the outside peripheral surface 37 of the nozzle adjacent to the opening in which the cap 20 is positioned. As shown in FIGURE 4, bearing 34 has a radially extending flange 38 in the plane of the bearing and an axially extending flange 39 substantially perpendicular to flange 38. The employment of a bearing such as hearing 34 shown in FIGURE 4 provides a number of advantages. There is no galling or scraping of the contacting surfaces of cap 21) and nozzle 13, and the bearing simplifies the problem of achieving and maintaining a proper fit between the rotatable cap and the nozzle.

To provide a source of illumination for light diffusing insert 23 disposed within cap 20, a suitable lamp 41 is appropriately positioned to shine on the insert. As shown in the drawing, lamp 41 is positioned above the cap 20 to accomplish this result. Advantageously, insert 23 is made of a light transmitting material such as a transparent plastic which will transmit the light received from the lamp to other portions of the insert. Overall illumination of the insert may be produced effectively, for example, by coating the back of the insert with a reflective coating, by forming the back of the insert into a plurality of angular planes or other similar expedients, to reflect the light over the desired area. Insert 23 also may have a suitable design, decoration, legend or trademark as a part thereof which will provide an eye-catching feature when the insert is illuminated.

To facilitate positioning of cap 26 in the wall 18 of nozzle 13, slotted portions 42 (shown in FIGURE 3) which match projections in plate 28 may be formed in the nozzle. The slots permit cap 29 to be positioned after the bearing 34, plate 28 and lifter 21 have been assembled thereon. Positioning may be accomplished by first inserting the lifter arm 21 of the assembly through the opening in the nozzle, then turning the assembly so that projections in plate 28 correspond with slots 42 in the nozzle, sliding any remaining projections of plate 28 over the inside edge 36 of the nozzle opening and press ing the cap 20 into position while projections in plate 28 slide through the corresponding slots 42 in the nozzle. An appropriate stop such as screw 43 may be positioned in front wall 18 of the nozzle at a point adjacent to the 3 opening to prevent inadvertent realignment of the projections of plate 28 with the slots 42 whereby accidental withdrawal of theassembly might occur.

From the above description, it will be seen that the attachment of the present invention overcomes many of the difliculties encountered with previous belt lifters containing attachments and nozzles. The attachment of the invention provides a belt lifter which operates smoothly and is of high durability thus eliminating the problems encountered when excess wear between the moving parts occurs. Furthermore, the attachment of the invention achieves these improved results with a structure which is not overly complex and which may be assembled simply and conveniently. An additional advantage of the attachment of the invention is that it may serve a decorative function.

It is apparent from the above description that various modifications of the particular structure described in detail may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, although the attachment described in detail above is a vacuum cleaner nozzle, the structure of the invention is also applicable to other attachments such as waxers, polishers, and similar belt driven mechanisms. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the particular structure disclosed in detail herein, except as may be required by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a fan casing with an inlet opening, a fan shaft extending through said opening, an accessory detachably connected to said fan casing and having a drivable shaft connectable to said fan shaft by a belt, the improvement which comprises an accessory housing, an opening in said housing through which said fan shaft projects when said accessory housing is attached to said fan casing, a manually rotatable member positioned in a sidewall of said housing adjacent the free end of said fan shaft, a circumferential bearing positioned between said rotatable member and said housing to facilitate movement therebetween, said rotatable member having a light diffusing insert secured therein, said member having an opening through which a tab of said insert extends to maintain said insert in proper position, an electric lamp aflixed to said fan casing and positioned above said member, and means carried by said member for applying said belt to said fan shaft and removing it therefrom by rotation of said member.

2. In a vacuum cleaner having a fan casing with an inlet opening, a fan shaft extending through said opening, an accessory detachably connected to said fan casing and having a drivable shaft connectable to said fan shaft by a belt, the improvement which comprises an accessory housing, an opening in said housing through which said fan shaft projects when said accessory housing is attached to said fan casing, a manually rotatable member positioned in a sidewall of said housing adjacent the free end of said fan shaft, a circumferential bearing positioned between said rotatable member and said housing to facilitate movement therebetween, said bearing having a radially extending flange and an axially extending flange, said rotatable member having a light dilfusing insert secured therein, said member having an opening through which a tab of said insert extends to maintain said insert in proper position, an electric lamp aflixed to said fan casing and positioned above said member, and means carried by said member for applying said belt to said fan shaft and removing it therefrom by rotation of said member.

3. In a vacuum cleaner having a fan casing with an inlet opening, a fan shaft extending through said opening, an accessory detachably connected to said fan casing and having a drivable shaft connectable to said fan shaft by a belt, the improvement which comprises an accessory housing, an opening in said housing through which said fan shaft projects when said accessory housing is attached to said fan casing, a manually rotatable member positioned in a sidewall of said housing adjacent the free end of said fan shaft, a circumferential bearing positioned between said rotatable member and said housing to facilitate movement therebetween, said bearing having a radially extending flange in the plane of the bearing which bears against the outside peripheral surface of said housing and an axially extending flange which bears against the inside peripheral edge of said housing, said rotatable member having a light diffusing insert secured therein, said member having an opening through which a tab of said insert extends to maintain said insert in proper position, an electric lamp affixed to said fan casing and positioned above said member, and means carried by said member for applying said belt to said fan shaft and removing it therefrom by rotation of said member.

4. In a vacuum cleaner having a fan casing with an inlet opening, a fan shaft extending through said opening, an accessory detachably connected to said fan casing and having a drivable shaft connectable to said fan shaft by a belt, the improvement which comprises an accessory housing, an opening in said housing through which said fan shaft projects when said accessory housing is attached to said fan casing, a manually rotatable member positioned in a sidewall of said housing adjacent the free end of said fan shaft, a circumferential bearing positioned between said rotatable member and said housing to facilitate movement therebetween, said rotatable member having a light diffusing insert secured therein, said member having an opening through which a tab of said insert extends, a biasing element positioned to bear against said insert and against said member, an electric lamp aflixed to said fan casing and positioned above said member, and means carried by said member for applying said belt to said fan shaft and removing it therefrom by rotation of said member.

5. In a vacuum cleaner having a fan casing with an inlet opening, a fan shaft extending through said opening, an accessory detachably connected to said fan casing and having a drivable shaft connectable to said fan shaft by a belt, the improvement which comprises an accessory housing, an opening in said housing through which said fan shaft projects when said accessory housing is attached to said fan casing, a manually rotatable member positioned in a sidewall of said housing adjacent the free end of said fan shaft, a circumferential bearing positioned between said rotatable member and said housing to facilitate movement therebetween, said rotatable member having a light diffusing insert secured therein, said member having an opening through which a tab of said insert extends, a biasing element positioned to bear against said insert and against said member, the central portion of said biasing element bearing against said insert and the end portions thereof bearing against said member, an electric lamp affixed to said fan casing and positioned above said member, and means carried by said member for applying said belt to said fan shaft and removing it therefrom by rotation of said member.

6. In a vacuum cleaner having a fan casing with an inlet opening, a fan shaft extending through said opening, an accessory detachably connected to said fan casing and having a drivable shaft connectable to said fan shaft by a belt, the improvement which comprises an accessory housing, an opening in said housing through which said fan shaft projects when said accessory housing is attached to said fan casing, a manually rotatable member positioned in a sidewall of said housing adjacent the free end of said fan shaft, a circumferential bearing positioned between said rotatable member and said housing to facilitate movement therebetween, said bearing having a radially extending flange and an axially extending flange, said rotatable member having a light diflusing insert secured therein, said member having an opening through which a tab of said insert extends, a biasing element positioned to bear against said insert and against said member, an electric lamp aflixed to said fan casing and positioned above said member, and means carried by said member for applying said belt to said fan shaft and removing it therefrom by rotation of said member.

7. In a vacuum cleaner having a fan casing with an inlet opening, a fan shaft extending through said opening, an accessory detachably connected to said fan casing and having a drivable shaft connectable to said fan shaft by a belt, the improvement which comprises an accessory housing, an opening in said housing through which said fan shaft projects when said accessory housing is attached to said fan casing, a manually rotatable member positioned in a sidewall of said housing adjacent the free end of said fan shaft, a circumferential bearing positioned between said rotatable member and said housing to facilitate movement 'therebetween, said bearing having a radially extending flange in the plane of the bearing which bears against the outside peripheral surface of said housing and an axially extending flange which bears against the inside peripheral edge of said housing, said rotatable member having a light difiusing insert secured therein, said member having an opening through which a tab of said insert extends, a biasing element positioned to bear against said insert and against said member, the central portion of said biasing element bearing against said insert and the end portions thereof bearing against said member, an electric lamp afiixed to said fan casing and positioned above said member, and means carried by said member for applying said belt to said fan shaft and removing it therefrom by rotation of said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,332,235 Staples Mar. 2, 1920 2,649,607 Vance Aug. 25, 1953 2,823,411 Kirby Feb. 18, 1958 

